Former Penn State president: I was abused as kid, wouldn't ignore Sandusky allegations
Graham Spanier was fired from his position as president of Penn State in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal.
July 24th, 2012
10:00 AM ET

Former Penn State president: I was abused as kid, wouldn't ignore Sandusky allegations

Former Penn State President Graham Spanier said he would never have ignored accusations of child sex abuse on campus because, among other things, he "personally experienced massive and persistent abuse as a child," according to a letter he sent to the school's board of trustees.

"It is unfathomable and illogical to think that a respected family sociologist and family therapist, someone who personally experienced massive and persistent abuse as a child, someone who devoted a significant portion of his career to the welfare of children and youth... would have knowingly turned a blind eye to any report of child abuse or predatory sexual acts directed at children," Spanier said in the letter - which was dated Sunday and obtained by CNN Tuesday.

While Spanier has not been criminally charged in the case, an investigation by ex-FBI chief Louis Freeh concluded that he helped university officials conceal allegations of sexual abuse against the former assistant football coach.

Spanier disputes these findings in his letter, saying "at no time during my presidency did anyone ever report to me that Jerry Sandusky was observed abusing a child or youth or engaged in a sexual act with a child or youth."

Sandusky was convicted in June of sexually abusing young boys over a 15-year period.

More on the Penn State scandal:

Paterno loyalists: Sanctions excessive

Ex-Penn State pres: I was abused

History books, Paterno's legacy altered?

Penalties won't be school's final payout

Opinion: Will players stick around?

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Filed under: Jerry Sandusky • Penn State
soundoff (220 Responses)
  1. HIDE BEHIND

    The actionsof NCAA are ineffect a reaction not a whole kot different than the actions of thosr who did not commit the actual crime but thought more of the program than the victims.
    The NCAA does not want gootball overall to get a blackeye and is willing to tarnish the reputations of many fine individuals that gave their all to win or lose contest against other schools
    To take away their just due to fame and memories they provided to tens of thousands maybe hundreds of thousands is no more than a publicitystunt and IMHO tarnishes their rights to rule over anything to do with this case and should call into duspect many of their rulings against both individuals and teams.
    Many a prima donnafootballteam or alumniinfractions recie e no more thanreprimands until an outside source begins to publish full stories.

    July 24, 2012 at 4:15 pm | Report abuse |
  2. ma & pa

    What Sandusky did on a day to day basis was "grooming" of everyone around him so they wouldn't his lusting after little boys' tight anuses. He didn't have the empathy to care about the little boy connectedto it. He just wanted to dominate that twitchy warm anus.

    July 24, 2012 at 4:16 pm | Report abuse |
    • Smyrnadad

      Geez, come on. Couldn't you have phrased that with a little more decorum? We all know what Sandusky did. Please spare us the graphic wordplay. Please.

      July 24, 2012 at 5:32 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      This is NOT ma and pa.

      July 24, 2012 at 5:43 pm | Report abuse |
    • Phillip

      I could not have said it better myself, ma & pa. Oh wait. I DID SAY IT!!!!!! Under your name. of course. My bad.

      July 24, 2012 at 5:56 pm | Report abuse |
  3. ma & pa

    Sandusky is a pimple on the backside of a mountain of perverts. Squeeze him until he vomits up their names so they, also, can be prosecuted.

    July 24, 2012 at 4:24 pm | Report abuse |
  4. stellaeagle

    This man apprently is as keen to deny responsibility for his actions as Sandusky himself is. Their cowardice is unbelievable.

    July 24, 2012 at 4:28 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Albi Gaither

    Oh please ... seriously ... HAVE YOU NO SHAME, SPANIER?!?!? If you had ever gone through anything even remotely related to the abuse that these boys experienced as a result of your conspiracy to cover it up then you would know ... THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS "HORSEPLAY" in a shower with a child. What did you THINK was going on there and, if you were a victim yourself then you should be even more ashamed!!!!! Sorry but you will not get any sympathy from me, you rich White Afrikaner power hungry MONSTER!!!!! Have you no decency, menheer?

    July 24, 2012 at 4:30 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Bill Miller

    Looks like sandusky will be going from Penn State to the State Pen.

    July 24, 2012 at 4:31 pm | Report abuse |
    • USMC1999

      wow, did you think of that one all by yourself?

      July 24, 2012 at 6:37 pm | Report abuse |
    • vivee

      ...and so should Spanier. What a crock, abused as a child and that makes his actions OK????

      July 24, 2012 at 6:53 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Lost Cruzer

    The one thing no one seems to be talking about is how quick the NCAA was to dole out its' justice to Penn State but not to themselves. When the NCAA surrenders ALL profits THEY made from the Penn State victories that no longer exist then we can say justice was served. Until that day the NCAA is still the most hypocritical organization on the planet. Funny how the NCAA makes even the NFL look like amateurs when it comes to profiting from the good AND the bad players, coaches, executives, etc.

    July 24, 2012 at 5:06 pm | Report abuse |
  8. ricksta@hotmail.co.jp

    The execs of Penn State need to be but in the State Penn.

    July 24, 2012 at 5:11 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Eat Mor Chikin'

    They are however keeping the library named after Paterno. This will be a reminder to patrons that they need to "Keep Quiet".

    July 24, 2012 at 5:39 pm | Report abuse |
  10. cbcard

    Maybe he was but it sure sounds a lot like "Some of my best friends are .....(fill in the blank).'

    July 24, 2012 at 5:55 pm | Report abuse |
  11. chrissy

    Hmmm @ banasy, how many times has Philip told us he doesnt hijack user names on here? Yet here he is hijacking ma & pa!

    July 24, 2012 at 6:19 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Ralph M

    It is a shame this disgusting liar is using this excuse to protect himself.

    July 24, 2012 at 6:25 pm | Report abuse |
  13. wsewell

    Don't get me wrong, what they did was wrong, but I don't know all the facts. All I know is this is a harsh penalty for people who had nothing to do with it. It really wont make the victims feel better, so I disagree with all this. The statue came down, and I can see maybe a 1 year ban(even though these people had nothing to do with it). I know it's suppose to be a statement to all other organizations, but this is why people cover things up. $60 million dollar loss, and all that's going to do is ensure people cover it up better out of fear.

    July 25, 2012 at 2:15 am | Report abuse |
  14. Tama

    Why are the youngsters being punished by having their wins revoked? All the coaches and administrators should be fired and sent to jail. But why punish the children again?

    July 25, 2012 at 10:42 am | Report abuse |
  15. Smyrnadad

    You are an idiot. Shut up.

    July 25, 2012 at 11:57 am | Report abuse |
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